Unit Platforms

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The Phytotron

Manager: Karen GagetScientific advisor: Federica Calevro

Objectives : The phytotron of BF2i, located on the 4th floor of the Pasteur building, is intended to produce the plants needed for the work of the BF2i lab, either for studies on plant-insect interactions, or for the breeding of certain insects that require live plants (field crop pests), and which are more difficult to raise on synthetic artificial media.We work mainly with Vicia faba bean, "universal host" of the legume model aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (also called pea aphid), and Medicago truncatula model alfalfa, as well as host plants of the major aphid pests Myzus persicae (chili pepper), Aphis gossypii (melon) and Rhopalosiphum padi (wheat), which are respectively peach, cotton/melon and wheat/barley/oat/maize aphids.

Techniques and equipment: Automated watering by tray on four independent cells (water and fertilizer). Independently regulated temperature on 3 cells of about 20 m2 each. Environment protected by anti-insect nets, to be completed during 2020 by an anti-insect airlock access

Conditions of access: Access for members of the BF2i, and accessible on project to colleagues in the Biology area of the La Doua Campus.

Location: This 'Phytotron' platform is located on the 4th floor of the Louis Pasteur building of INSA Lyon.